Tonight, the universe will shine for him. (Please support!)

After leaving the old gymnasium, Hawk headed toward the parking lot.

He was unaware of what was happening behind him.

But even if he had known, he wouldn’t have cared.

Although Spider-Man was hailed as the number one character in American comics, honestly, Hawk wasn’t familiar with Peter.

Even though they were in the same grade.

By the time Hawk, carrying his shoulder bag, arrived at the parking lot, the door of the last orange school bus was already open.

A driver with a thick beard, dressed in the school’s work uniform, was leaning boredly on the steering wheel, fiddling with a portable radio.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Hall,” Hawk greeted politely as he boarded. “Any special news today?”

Mr. Hall, with his bushy beard, looked intimidating at first glance.

But in reality, he wasn’t fierce at all.

On the contrary, he was a good man.

“Still the Quantic Building collapse; they say it was a terrorist attack,” Mr. Hall said, still fiddling with his radio, glancing at his watch. “Hawk, you’re two minutes later than yesterday.”

Hawk shrugged.

“Sorry, I was held up by a shower.”

“Good thing I know you take my bus home every day, or I would’ve driven off to the school gate already. Sit tight, we’re moving.”

“Okay.”

Hawk remained polite, slinging his backpack as he moved toward the back.

Mr. Hall started the engine, preparing to close the doors and head to the school entrance to pick up more students.

At that moment, Peter suddenly darted out from afar, squeezing aboard just as the bus door was about to close.

Mr. Hall was startled.

“Thick-skinned…”

Apparently realizing that cursing wasn’t polite, Mr. Hall bit back the words, then looked at the panting Peter boarding, and then at Flash Thompson and his three followers running up outside.

Flash Thompson and his gang didn’t get on the bus; they stood outside watching Peter get on.

Mr. Hall’s gaze flicked between Peter on the bus and Flash outside, then frowned and asked, “Hey, are you guys getting on?”

Flash glanced at Mr. Hall but said nothing, instead turning around and leading his group away sullenly.

Bullying classmates was one thing, but bullying in front of school staff was another matter entirely.

He was a bully, not a fool.

Peter wasn’t naive either, so after Mr. Hall closed the doors, Peter thanked him.

Mr. Hall glanced at Peter but said nothing.

He understood the situation but as long as no bullying happened on his bus, that was enough.

As for elsewhere?

He was just a bus driver; it wasn’t his concern or responsibility.

Peter said nothing further and turned to find a seat.

He noticed Hawk sitting in the back by the window and, after some thought, walked over.

“Thanks.”

“…”

Hawk, lost in thought staring out the window, as if still caught between yesterday and today, looked at Peter standing before him expressionlessly.

“I didn’t do anything to help you. You don’t have to thank me.”

After saying that, he turned his gaze back outside, ignoring Peter.

He didn’t know if Peter had mutated now.

Most likely, he hadn’t become the spider spirit he remembered.

But even if Peter had mutated, he didn’t want to deal with him.

To be precise, he didn’t want to deal with any superheroes.

Superheroes sounded impressive, but in truth, they were closely linked to all kinds of disasters.

Before gaining any edge, he had no intention of rushing to mingle with these heroes.

He just wanted to live longer, to be reborn and at least live a full, peaceful life.

If possible, to study diligently, improve daily, and live with some carefree ease.

Now with his abilities activated, Hawk’s original intention hadn’t changed.

Only that from living a little more carefree, it became living longer and more freely if he could.

But no matter which, the premise was the same.

One phrase:

Stay out of the superheroes’ mess.

So, even after enrolling and learning about Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, he had no desire to get to know them actively.

But Gwen was different.

No choice.

She was their eleventh-grade student assistant, but dating the acknowledged number one comic book girlfriend, Gwen Stacy?

Hawk didn’t entertain that idea, at least not yet.

He wasn’t ready for love.

Peter watched Hawk, who had turned back to the window after speaking, mouth opening as if to say something more, but ultimately chose silence and sat down in a seat on the right.

Soon, the bus reached the school gate.

As Mr. Hall opened the door, students waiting for the last free bus began to board.

The once quiet bus quickly buzzed with chatter.

An hour later.

Jackson Heights arrived.

Mr. Hall opened the door and smiled at Hawk, who was already standing by the door, bidding farewell.

“See you tomorrow, Hawk.”

“See you tomorrow, Mr. Hall.”

Hawk politely returned the farewell, then stepped off the bus and headed toward an old five-story apartment building with weathered orange walls not far away.

This old apartment belonged to the New York City Housing Authority.

Hawk’s apartment was on the fifth floor.

Though small, it had the advantage of easy access to the rooftop via an external fire escape.

Soon after arriving home, Hawk placed his backpack on the table, then took out a plastic bag containing freshly washed clothes.

He fetched two drying racks, opened the window, and climbed the external fire escape to the rooftop.

After hanging the clothes to dry, Hawk walked to the rooftop railing, resting his hands on it and gazing up at the occasional planes flying overhead—either preparing to land at or take off from nearby LaGuardia Airport.

He counted the planes as he enjoyed the breeze.

It was one of his few hobbies for relaxation.

Lately, he had taken up a new pastime as well.

Stargazing.

Night fell.

Seated on the rooftop next to the apartment’s ventilation shaft, Hawk enjoyed the summer evening breeze while looking up at the starry sky that appeared after dusk.

The vast expanse of stars.

Countless twinkling lights.

Perhaps it was an illusion.

Since half a year ago, Hawk had felt that as he persisted in punching ten thousand times daily, he developed a connection to this vast starry universe.

Tonight, that feeling was even stronger.

Last night, some faint constellations barely visible to the naked eye had become remarkably clear today.

Pegasus!

Draco!

Cygnus!

Andromeda!

Phoenix!

...

Lynx!

...

The forty-eight constellations symbolizing the forty-eight Bronze Saints shone vividly before Hawk’s eyes.

It seemed that tonight,

the entire universe

would glitter just for him!